Regulatory and Legal Affairs - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 6

3 min

RateGain Awarded at People Matters Infini-T Awards 2026 for AI Skills Transformation in Workforce Development

📈 India, August 27, 2026: RateGain Travel Technologies Limited, a leader in AI-powered SaaS for travel, received the People Matters Infini-T Award in the Skills Transformation category. Their AI-native workforce initiative delivered 15,000+ learning hours to 5,600+ learners in FY25-26. Initiatives like Beyond Algorithms and Peer Learning Workshops support this. RateGain supports 14,000+ customers in 160+ countries. Founded in 2004, it partners with leading travel operators, including 33 of the Top 40 Hotel Chains.

1 min

Revised Code of Practice on Tipping to be Implemented by End of 2026 After Public Consultation

💰 By the end of 2026, a Revised Code of Practice on Tipping will take effect. Katie Linstead, VP of compliance and operations at Grateful, highlights changes for tronc operators. Initially presented to Parliament, the Code was withdrawn for public consultation. The Department for Business and Trade confirmed on July 29 that substantive content changes are not anticipated in the revised Code.

2 min

HM Treasury Appoints Jerry Schurder to Lead Business Rates Review for Hotels and Pubs in England and Wales

📈 HM Treasury appointed Jerry Schurder to review business rates for hotels and pubs in England and Wales, reporting by March 2027. Prime Minister Andy Burnham previously cut rates by 20% starting April 2027. The review aims to establish fairer valuations with recommendations for the 2029 revaluation. A call for evidence, closing October 16, 2026, seeks input from businesses and stakeholders. Financial Secretary James Murray emphasizes creating a fairer system.

Emmy Stoel Named Europe's Best Hotel GM in 2023 Amidst Amsterdam's Rising Tourism Taxes and Market Challenges

📍 Emmy Stoel was named Europe's best hotel general manager by EHMA in 2023, as the second Dutch national and woman to achieve this. She led InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest since September 2025 and previously managed Okura Amsterdam from January 1, 2013, and Sofitel Legend The Grand until 2024. The Amsterdam tourist tax increased from 7% to 12.5% in 2024, with VAT rising to 21% in 2026. City-center RevPAR is 13% below 2019 levels, with a further decline expected.

InterContinental Partners with Timeshifter to Provide Complimentary Jet Lag Mitigation Plans at 242 Hotels Worldwide

🛫 August 26, InterContinental extends its partnership with Timeshifter, offering guests at 242 hotels in nearly 70 countries free access to personalized jet lag plans. The Timeshifter app uses circadian science to customize strategies for overcoming jet lag. Every guest receives a complimentary plan, accessed via QR codes. InterContinental also offers nutritionally rich dishes to combat travel fatigue. Founded in 1946, InterContinental operates over 220 hotels worldwide with more than 73,350 rooms.

FHS Living to Explore Global Trends in Branded Residences and Investment Opportunities in UAE and Saudi Arabia on October 1.

📅 On October 1, FHS Living in the UAE focuses on branded residences, covering various living asset classes. Driving factors include a desire for quality living and investment opportunities, especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, due to national development strategies and investor-friendly policies. Experts like Susanna Mander and Mohamad Haj Hassan highlight branded residences' appeal for blending lifestyle and investment benefits. Demand is rising in Dubai and Saudi gigaprojects, with brands like Melià and Wyndham offering global expertise.

Jagruti Panwala to Receive Peggy Berg Castell Award at 2026 Lodging Conference for Advancing Women in Hospitality

🏨 Jagruti Panwala, President and CEO of Wealth Protection Strategies, will receive the Peggy Berg Castell Award on October 7, 2026, at The Lodging Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. An AHLA Executive Committee member, she is recognized for elevating women in hospitality. Panwala, a past Chairwoman of AAHOA, was also the youngest inductee into Signator's Hall of Fame in 2014. The AHLA Foundation, supporting industry growth, is part of the AHLA, representing over 30,000 members.

4 min

Booking.com Limits Property Access to Guest Data to 30 Days Post-Stay; Expedia Allows Own Retention Policy

📑 Booking.com's General Delivery Terms dictate that guest data is available for 30 days post-stay, limiting hotels' use for marketing purposes. Clause 2.2.4 allows data for booking purposes only, while 2.9.3 prohibits unsolicited communications. Expedia's policy, updated March 3, 2025, leaves data retention to hotel policy but restricts marketing use. Hotels should capture guest emails purposefully during their stay for personalized follow-ups, as channel-provided data expires and isn't for marketing.

5 min

Booking.com Deletes Guest Data 30 Days Post-Checkout, Limiting Hotel Marketing Opportunities

📅 On August 26, 2026, Booking.com's data policy outlines that guests' details vanish from hotel screens 30 days post-checkout. Expedia, in contrast, lets hotels manage retention time but prescribes data use. To secure guest emails, hotels need operational strategies during stays. Any email obtained directly from guests becomes hotel property, unlike the temporary data from booking channels. The crucial interaction window is from check-in to check-out, where hotels can personally gather guest information.

3 min

BWH Hotels GB CEO Urges Immediate VAT Cut for Struggling Independent Hotels Amid Delayed Business Rates Reform

🏨 Tim Rumney, CEO of BWH Hotels GB, urges immediate VAT reductions for independent hotel operators, citing 2029 as too late for business rates reform. Pubs received relief, yet hotels, with higher fixed costs and 24-hour operations, haven't. Hotels face a £250m sector cost in 2023, with 85% of industry respondents supporting VAT cuts for growth by August 2024. UK's hotel sector missed £73m in reliefs in April 2019. Immediate measures are crucial to prevent closures.

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